Cast of Courage Shocks Teen Drivers

Oct 21 2007 By Grace Macaskill

We meet the cast of a brave stage show trying to save lives on Scotland's roads

A courageous cast of a stage show is shocking teenage audiences across the country.Itbegins with the pounding bass of a dance track then cuts to a paralysedbiker, a mum who lost her son and a brain-damaged friend telling theirstories.

They are not actors but ordinary people living with the consequences of carnage caused by young or inexperienced drivers on ourroads.

This group are willing to relive their worst moments in a hard-hitting play.

Their descriptions are so harrowing some people watching the fire brigade presentation have fainted or been sick.

But Fife divisional fire officer Bob Arnott, who runs the Safe Drive- StayAlive show in Grampian, Fife and Tayside makes no apology for the bluntmessage.

He said: "Everyone on the stage is incredibly brave to tell their story.

"Ouraim isn't to shock. "This isn't about guts and gore. If you show them that, the blood and gore is what they remember instead of the message."

Last year 314 youngsters were killed on Scotland's roads.

Arnottwants the show seen across the country and supports our Stop the Carnage campaign which calls for free Pass Plus tests for all driversunder 25.

Bob added: "The aim is to show the ultimate price paid by everyone involved.

"It's about bringing the reality of dangerous driving home."

Daughter's death tore us apart

KAREN TREMAIN lost her 16-year-old daughter in a crash which tore apart two families.

Michaela was killed instantly in a two-car smash on the notorious B979 Westhill to Culter road in Aberdeenshire in April 2005.

Herboyfriend Brian, 20, and Karen shared their grief - until he wascharged with dangerous driving. He later walked free due to a lack ofevidence.

Karen, 43, ofWesthill, said: "When I found he had beencharged I was devastated. When it was never heard I accepted I mightnot know exactly what happened. It's best if I don't have any contactwith him."

This is the third year Karen has taken part in the campaign but rehearsing is still very hard.

She said: "The first time I found it difficult to get the words out.

"I hope Michaela's story serves as a warning. A young person is killed almost every week on roads in this area."

Smash killed my baby dream

SUSAN McGRATH'S dream of starting a family is in tatters after she almost died in a crash with her boyfriend.

Susan, 32, suffered back and spinal injuries and will be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

She said: "I wanted a baby but now I can hardly look after myself."

Susan, of Lochgelly, Fife, was 16 when her boyfriend's car clipped the kerb and hit a lamp post in Livingston.

She was not wearing a seatbelt and her spleen was ruptured.

He admitted careless driving and was fined £250 and banned for nine months.

During the show, Susan wheels herself on to the stage and tells her story.

She pleads for young motorists to take more care and begs for them to look beyond her wheelchair.

She tells them: "The most upsetting thing is that people see the chair and not me.

"It's a method of transport to me and not who I am.

"Remember when you're driving, watch your speed, think about the safety ofyourself and other passengers because, while I survived, plenty don't."

Son smiled at me then died in my arms

MICHELLE SNEDDON was walking home from a dance class with her two child dren andher neighbour's family when they were hit by a car.

Joyrider Dean Martin, 23, high on drink and drugs, crashed into them at 75mph.

Themum, of Glenrothes, managed to save her daughter Lyta, now four, bypushing her pram out of the way seconds before she was knocked unconscious.

But when Michelle, 33, came round she saw herfive-year-old son Ross slumped against a garage. She took him in herarms and hedied moments later.

Neighbour Anne Martin, 39, and her eight-year-old daughter Ashley were also killed.

Martin was jailed for 11 years after a court heard how he binged on lager, cider and ecstasy before the crash.

Michelle said: "It's very difficult to get up there and tell strangers how I lost my son but if it makes one person think 'I'm an idiot for speeding' it will be worth it.

"Safe Drive-Stay Alive is a very hard hitting initiative but it has to be.

"I will never forget what happened that day. I heard the screech of tyres and looked right into Martin's face before he hit us.

"Ross lying garage. He smiled at me, then he died in my arms.

"I hope is my story changes the attitudes of other young drivers. There isnot a day goes by when I don't think about Ross. I can't bring him back but perhaps I could help save someone else's child."

They think they are immortal

LINDA WILLIAMS sat through a power cut with no idea it was caused by the crash that killed her son.

Linda,of Maud, Aberdeenshire, said: "My neighbour said she could see bluelights in the distance and my heart sank. I just knew."

Ian, 21, was out with a friend in November 2003 when the car hit an electricity pole.

He died instantly and his 25-year-old friend, the driver, was badly hurt.

Linda said: "No charges were brought as there were no brake marks on theroad.We were never told what caused it but I know young drivers are often over-confident.

"They think they are immortal. Taking part in this campaign has been cathartic but it is painful.

"It's frightening when every day you read someone else has died.

"Ian's death completely changed our lives.We will never be the same again."

Wear a seatbelt or end up like me

DAVID GALLOWAY can no longer talk and needs a voicebox to describe how it took seconds for his life to change in a fatal accident.

He uses the machine to warn youngsters about driving recklessly.

David,24, was a passenger in his friend Robert McAllister's car when it collided with another vehicle, killing pensioner Margaret McKee.

McAllister, 26, was jailed for two-and-half years after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.

Davidspent nine months in a coma. Doctors told his family he would not lasttwo hours after the crash at Winchburgh, West Lothian.

David, of Dunfermline, is now brain damaged, confined to a wheelchair and needs 24-hour care for the rest of his life. David said: "Before thishappened I planned to travel the world.

"I am an example of what can happen if you don't wear a seatbelt.

"My message to everyone is to wear a seatbelt every time because you never know what can happen."

Mum Margaret, 46, a council worker, said: "David was lucky to survive. He was taking driving lessons at the time and wanted his own car.

"We know he always wore a seatbelt when he was with us and don't know why he chose not to that day.

"Getting in someone else's car almost cost him his life."

IN the first half of this year, 129 people were killed on Scotland's roads and 45 were young victims.

SafeDrive-Stay Alive launches a website with dates of events on Tuesday at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium. See www.safedrivestayalive.org